Chapter 97
After setting up the tent, Caroline and Rena finally returned. The three of them had dinner at a nearby restaurant before heading off for grass sliding as planned.
Caroline hadn't expected Gavin to join them. "Mr. Bennett, you're coming too?"
Gavin hesitated briefly. "I can watch over you both from the side."
He had his own unspoken reasons, but being able to accompany them and see Caroline's genuine smile made him happy.
Caroline nodded without further comment. As Rena's uncle, it made sense for Gavin to stay close.
Grass sliding was an exhilarating activity, with occasional screams from other tourists filling the air.
Considering Rena's age, Caroline chose a gentler slope, and soon the pair disappeared from Gavin's view.
He selected the steepest slide for himself, though his eyes continued to follow Caroline and Rena after they had stopped.
Gavin's feelings were complicated. He had always admired Caroline—her resilient character, her talent, and her persistent drive to learn were especially attractive.
But the Windsor Group's repeated interference with the neuroscience lab had forced him to investigate. He discovered that Caroline was the reason behind it.
Through a private investigator, he learned about the tensions between the parties involved.
Arthur and Caroline's secret marriage wasn't actually a secret in Sovereign City's elite circles. Arthur had put no effort in hiding it, and no one in their social sphere had expected the marriage to last.
With Heidi's appearance, many were now betting on when the divorce would happen.
Learning the truth had made Gavin feel deeply for Caroline. Her talent shouldn't be questioned, nor should it be buried because of family obligations.
Without those seven years of marriage, he believed Caroline's achievements would have been unmatched.
Somehow, his admiration had evolved into something more.
Gavin admitted to himself that he wanted to be by her side, to protect her.
When he learned Caroline would be taking Rena camping today, he had arrived at his sister's house early just to join them.
Coming back to his senses, Gavin's pupils suddenly contracted. Was he seeing things, or were Arthur and Heidi actually here?
Before knowing about the three-way relationship, he might have gone over to say hello. But now, he worried about hurting Caroline.
Gavin instinctively looked toward Caroline, but she and Rena were happily playing, completely unaware of their surroundings.
He sighed with relief. As evening approached, he guided Caroline and Rena to their tent for a barbecue, deliberately avoiding the direction Arthur and Heidi had taken.
With a bit of caution, they should be able to avoid running into them.
He had just sat down to rest when Caroline's phone rang. It was Becky.
As soon as the call connected, Becky's irritated voice blasted through the speaker.
"Damn it! You won't believe my luck. I finally have time for a date, and I run into certain mood-killing wastes of space. Talk about the worst luck!"
Before Caroline could ask, Becky sent a photo. "Look at this. I swear, they're everywhere!"
The image was simple: under a sky filled with colorful fireworks stood a single couple—Arthur and Heidi, gazing at each other as if they were the only two people in the world.
Caroline suddenly felt a massive weight on her chest, making it hard to breathe.
On the phone, Becky continued her rant.
"I can't believe it. That blind fool Arthur actually had the nerve to come say hello to me—with Heidi in tow! I swear I wanted to launch them both into outer space!"
As she spoke, the sound of fireworks erupted through the phone.
Caroline looked up just in time to see the brilliant, colorful display lighting up the sky not far from them.
Against this romantic backdrop, Becky's angry voice stood out even more. "I wish I could unsee what I just witnessed! God! Arthur is such a jerk!"
In contrast to Becky's outburst, Caroline's reaction was remarkably calm. "Would you like some barbecue?"
"...What?"
Three minutes later, Becky was eating lamb ribs grilled by Caroline herself, her expression bewildered.
After downing a glass of iced watermelon juice, she stared at Caroline. "Aren't you angry?"
Caroline continued serving her, smiling faintly. "I don't want to harm my body over people who aren't worth it."
Right now, she just wanted to enjoy the moment. Getting better was what mattered.
Becky continued devouring the barbecue, her expression still indignant. "You don't understand what happened when we went over there..."
Caroline's expression remained calm, as if the barbecue before her was all that existed.
She ate sparingly, spending most of her time grilling for others.
Rena frowned as she watched Caroline. She sensed that Caroline was unhappy, seeming sad ever since receiving that phone call.
She grabbed her phone and jumped into Caroline's lap. "Ms. Hamilton, let's take a group photo!"
Caroline didn't refuse. "Sure."
The camera captured all four of them, with the colorful fireworks that had just bloomed in the background.
Becky, though still upset, instinctively activated her photo-ready smile for the camera.
After the photo, Becky carefully edited it before posting it online and sending the retouched version to Caroline. "Behold my godlike photo-editing skills!"
Caroline opened the photo but hadn't looked closely before Becky urged her to post it.
"Hurry! Post it! I want them to eat their hearts out!"
Under Becky's "threatening" gaze, Caroline smiled and posted the photo with the caption: [Beautiful night. Camping is fun.]
Almost immediately, Logan called. As soon as she answered, his accusatory voice came through. "Mommy, you went camping today?"
Caroline didn't hide it. "Yes, I came with Rena."
"Mommy, how could you?" Logan's displeasure reached its peak. "You knew Layla and I wanted to go camping, but you took someone else instead of us. Do you even remember you're our mom?"
Caroline pressed her lips together, her voice cool and resolute. "I will always be your mom, but I'm not only your mother. Before it, I was myself. I have the right to take other children out. My world doesn't revolve solely around you."
She had placed hope in Logan and Layla many times, only to be disappointed. In that failed marriage, the children had hurt her even more than Arthur had.
Now, she no longer cared.
Logan was stunned for a moment before bursting into tears. "Mommy, how can you say that? I've forgiven you for not spending much time with us, but how can you spend time with others? I don't love you anymore!"
Before Caroline could respond, he angrily turned off his phone and ran back to his room, ignoring even Layla.
A few minutes later, Layla also called Caroline. "Mommy, do you really not want us anymore? Aren't Logan and I your beloved babies? Do you only want Rena now?"